That makes 60 votes for cloture, assuming Reid can keep the entire Democratic caucus in line. I’m not aware of any defectors yet but Tester, McCaskill, Ben Nelson and a few other red-state Dems who are up in 2012 will be thinking awfully hard about this vote, needless to say.

Two big qualifiers, though. Collins, at least, is sticking by the GOP’s plan to vote no on everything until a deal is reached on the Bush tax cuts. Brown’s statement doesn’t address the subject, but since he also signed the Republican pledge to make the tax cuts top priority, presumably he’s on the same page. Until something happens on taxes, then, this is all meaningless. Which brings us to the second qualifier: Will there be any time left in the lame duck to address DADT even after a deal on taxes is reached? Durbin announced just within the past hour or so that he expects they’ll bring the DREAM Act to the floor next week. (Gird your loins.) GOP opposition to the START treaty has been softening too, so no doubt Reid’s going to try to take advantage by adding that to the calendar. Between tax cuts, DREAM, and START, will there be any time to take up DADT? If not, and given the fact that DREAM has much less of a chance of passing than the DADT repeal does, doesn’t that mean that Democrats will have completely sold out their last, best chance at achieving a key goal of their gay base for nothing more than a token gesture to Latinos? Rush should talk that up next week. Operation Chaos II!

In the interest of equal time after last night’s post, here’s vid of Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos politely disagreeing with Gates and Mullen about repealing DADT right now. Emphasis on “right now”: He accepts repeal as a fait accompli, he just wants it on hold until the services aren’t under the strain of combat. (See Levin’s response to that.) The heads of the Army and Air Force agree with him, in fact; the only service branch head who favors immediate repeal of DADT is, er, the Navy’s. Exit question: Isn’t the real debate here whether DADT will be lifted by Congress or the courts, not whether it’ll be lifted at all? The Pentagon sure seems to think so.

Do you really think this is any different from what he was when running for office?!

The US is BROKE and hes worried about this nonsense.

Let's see...the Dems agreed to consider holding off on the tax increase and blocking other cuts in exchange for DADT (and START II). So he's not the one holding up things. (Not that I'm agreeing with his position...I'm just pointing out that his position is not at odds with getting the economy in order.)

10
posted on 12/03/2010 5:46:11 PM PST
by Gondring
(Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)

I can’t wait to hear another so-called conservative remind me to ignore social issues, because fiscal matters are the only ones that matter. It’s not like the leftists are going to declare a truce on social issues. They’re attacking on every front, and it’s all interrelated.

I don’t think people understand how serious the repeal of DADT really is. If conservatives lose this one, we lose the entire Gay War. The DoD will capitulate on on-base housing and benefits for homosexual couples, DoD chaplains and Christian military members will receive gag orders for anti-homosexual speech (creates hostile and intimidating work environment), and courts will overturn state restrictions on homosexual “marriage” because “people who are willing to die for their country deserve to marry the spouse of their choice.”

It is so blatantly obvious that homosexuality is a deviant act that goes against the natural order of things. It is one thing to tolerate it. Gates and Mullet-head Mullin want to normalize and endorse promiscuous anal sodomy as fully compatible with a healthy, morally upright military career. Leadership is out to destroy smoking and increase fitness standards, but having a butt buddy is A-OK?

Heaven help us!

17
posted on 12/03/2010 5:54:55 PM PST
by CitizenUSA
(Land of the free, home of the brave, eh? Consider me a "Domestic Extremist!")

If the Democrats need his vote, they got it. If they can flip a few more Republicans, which should be as difficult as breaking an eggshell, they may let him slide. But, in the end, always look for a Democrat to behave as a Democrat. Unfortunately for us, the same holds for Republicans also.

Even if the Dims get cloture, the Repubs can slow this down voting for amendment after amendment to lard it down. The bill goes to the joint house meeting where the two houses again have to agree to pass the same bill. Time is not on the rats side. Tick toc tick toc.... Dems - oh damn - time’s up, it is January.

When it comes to trickery and deceit never count the Democrats out. I am hoping that the Republicans can stall them and limit the damage they cause. But I also know how the Democrats operate.

When they kept the witch as their House Leader and Reid as their Senate leader, they are signaling that thhey are ready to fight. I just hope that the Rwepublicans are up to the task. History is not with me on this one.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

25
posted on 12/03/2010 6:25:47 PM PST
by Pegita
('Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word ...)

The Dims better pull out all of their dirty tricks to get START, DADT, DREAM, and to redo (they messed up) that power grab of a Food Act or whatever it's called in the next 27 days.

Senator Collins:

"Once the tax issue is resolved, I have made it clear that if the Majority Leader brings the Defense Authorization bill to the floor with sufficient time allowed for debate and amendments, I would vote to proceed to the bill,"

While we are at WAR the pin heads want to jam this down our throats(pun intended) like it can’t wait until we are not in a state of war.

I really hope we can get these asshats out of power before violence befalls our country. On the other hand I admit I would probably take pleasure in dishing out some what they got coming to them if we do fall into violence and have to pick sides.

Im not aware of any defectors yet but Tester, McCaskill, Ben Nelson and a few other red-state Dems who are up in 2012 will be thinking awfully hard about this vote, needless to say.

Yeah, Tester maybe. Ben Nelson, I don't think, is running for re-election so he doesn't give a damn. The idiot McCaskill may think about it, but she is so frickin' stupid, she'll think voting to repeal DADT will help her.

She is easily manipulated by Hussein.

I despise these RINOs, and really, I wish their Republican constitutents would boot 'em.

I know we risk a loss of a seat, but when the votes are close and they're not reliable, then what the hell USE are they?

David fought many battles following God’s lead. What does God want us to do for our military? How do we fight for them in Washington while they fight for us in other countries? Do we call the Senate? Will they listen?

Not to mention the fact that the left for decades has deliberately intertwined fiscal spending with social issues so that you can’t attack one without attacking the other. “It’s for the children” is just one example of the intertwining. “Social justice” is another.

Any spending you want to attack has a social aspect to it. They designed it that way.

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